
This picturesque temple abode of goddess
Durga Parameshwari located on the banks of river Nandini, a place known for its serene nature and beautiful
surroundings. The sacred temple
of Mata Durga Parameshwari
is located in the middle of the river Nandini. This holy place attracts
thousands of devotees from all over. During rainy season, the river Nandini flows in full force. The
natural surroundings around the temple in full bloom and greenery are a real
treat to admire during this period. Pilgrims who visit the temple during the
season love the scenic beauty and divine atmosphere in the temple vicinity.
The holy temple is situated on an islet in the middle of the sacred
river Nandini amidst panoramic scenes and fascinating greenery. Devotees and
followers from all over the world come to Kateel every year in huge numbers to
participate in Simhamaasa, Navarathri and other holy festivals and special occasions.
Several educational institutions are also run through the temple's trust.
The temple's trust also encourages several forms of arts. Notable among them is
the Yakshagana Dashavathara Mela which was started as an offering to the
goddess. During Dussera, Navaratri and other annual celebrations several sacred
rituals like, Chandika havana ,
Thula bhaara, Veda parayana, Hari kathas are performed to appease the goddess.
History
When goddess
slew Shumbha and Nishumbha, Arunasura, one of the ministers, had fled from the
battlefield and saved his life. Later he became the leader of the Rakshasas
(demons). He began to disturb the sages and destruct their Yajnas. As a result,
the Devas stopped the rain, which resulted in total draught and scarcity of
water and foodgrains on the earth. Moved by the pathetic conditions of the
people Maharishi Jabali, the great sage decided to perform a Yajna to appease
the Devas. He approached Devendra and requested him to send Kamadhenu (a sacred
cow) with him for the ritual. Since Kamadhenu had been to Varuna Loka, Devendra
permitted the sage to take Nandini, the daughter of Kamadhenu in order to
assist him as Homadhenu (symbolic cow for ritual) in his proposed Yajna. Jabali
went to Nandini and put forth his request. In reply Nandini abused the earth
and the people there, and refused to accompany him. When the sage found that
Nandini was firm in her refusal, he cursed her to flow as a river on the earth.
As Nandini prayed Jabali for mercy, kind hearted sage advised her to pray
Adhishakti to get freed from the curse. Accordingly she prayed Adhishakti.
Pleased by her deep meditation the goddess appeared before Nandini and told her
that she has to flow as a river as the result of the curse, as nobody could
trespass the words (Rishi vakya) of a holy sage. But she added, ‘I shall take
birth as your daughter in due course and purify you from this curse’. Satisfied
by this assurance Nandini emerged as a river from Kanakagiri on the day of
Magha Shuddha Poornima and made the earth green and fertile once again.
Meanwhile
Arunasura acquired a boon from Brahma, which made him free from fear of death
by Trinity, Devas, men or women or by any two-legged or four-legged animals and
creatures. Goddess Saraswati also blessed him with Gayathri Mantra (holy
chants). All these boons made him the most powerful person. He defeated the
Devatas and conquered heaven. Disheartened by the disastrous defeat, the Devatas,
along with Trinity pleaded with Adhishakti for the rescue. Goddess said that
unless and until Arunasura is prevented from reciting Gayathri Mantra she too
would not be able to destroy him. She suggested them to send Brihaspathi (Guru
of Devatas) to distract Arunasura from his meditation of Gayathri Mantra, and
make him get rid of Gayathri recitation so that she would be able to kill him.
Brihaspathi approached Arunasura, flattered him, poisoned his ears and
succeeded in diverting him from his meditation. Now Arunasura vainly felt that
he was more than God himself. He not only ordered his subjects to worship him
but also troubled the sages and spoiled their Yajnas. As promised to the Devas,
Goddess took the shape of Mohini, a charming woman and began to wander in the garden of Arunasura . Chanda and Prachanda,
ministers of Arunasura saw her and informed the master about her beauty.
Arunasura decided to marry her and approached her. When she turned deaf ears to
his request and teased him for fleeing from the battle-field, afraid of the
lady who killed his masters Shumbha and Nishumbha, he became furious. When he
tried to take her by storm, she disappeared inside a rock. Arunasura broke the
rock with his sword. Suddenly, a vast swarm of bees emerged from the rock and
stung him. Devi had taken the form of a big, furious bee that is 'Bhramara' and
stung him repeatedly till his last breath. Now the Devas and the sages led by
Jabali performed ‘Abhishekham’ (holy bath) to Devi with tender coconut brought
from the Kalpavriksha of Devaloka, and prayed to her to bless the world with
'Soumya Roopa' (tender posture). According to this request Devi emerged in the
form of 'Linga' (symbolic holy rock) in the middle of the river Nandini and is
known as Shree Durga Parameshwari. ‘Kati’ means waist and ‘ila’ means earth. So
Kateel stands for that area of the earth, which is the Kati, or the centre of
the river Nandini. The Nandini is purified by the birth of Adhishakti in her
‘Kati’ and Durga Parameshwari is here for the good of the universe and blesses
those who come to her.
Yakshagaana,
The temple's trust also encourages several
forms of arts. Notable among them is the Yakshagaana, Dashavathara Mela which was started as an offering to
the goddess. Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre form combining dance, music,
spoken word, dramatic costumes, makeup, and stage technique with a distinct
style and form of mythological story-telling. Both the word Yakshagaana and its
world are both interesting and intriguing. It is a theatre form mainly
prevalent in the coastal districts and adjacent areas, in Karnataka. Yakshagaana
is one of the most lively art traditions in the world. There are about five
full fledged troupes in Kateel. They go on tour between November to May,
performing Seva shows as Parake of devotees. Usually the show starts from 9 pm and
goes on till 6am in the morning.
Annadaana
Annadaana makes Shree
Kshethra specially identified to be the realm of God. Every day about 2000
people get Prasada Bhojan which exceeds 4000 on Fridays. During the other
festivals and Navaraathri, on Fridays of Simhamaasa, more than 8000 devotees
get Shree Devi's Bhojan Prasadam. Except on Ekaadashi, on all other days at
noon and at night free meals are served to the devotees after the Mahapooja.
Except on holidays all the students of the institutions (more than 1500) run by
the trust, are provided with free meals since the last 15 years.
Also read: *Bappanadu Durga Parameshwari Temple
Also read: *Bappanadu Durga Parameshwari Temple
MyPost:
Ancient
caves:
In
the western suburb of Mumbai, on the outskirts, are the Kanheri caves, which
date back to more than 2,000 years. The caves – 140 in total are in good
condition, all carved out of a single black rock, contain many ancient Buddhist
sculptures, carvings, paintings and inscriptions dating from 1st
century BCE to 10 th century CE.
The
Kanheri Caves are a group of rock-cut monuments formed from a massive basalt
rock in the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the western outskirts
of Mumbai. They contain Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings and
inscriptions. Kanheri comes from the Sanskrit name, Krishnagiri, which means, black
mountain. Each cave has a stone plinth that functioned as a bed. A congregation
hall with huge stone pillars contains a stupa (a Buddhist shrine). Rock-cut
channels above the caves fed rainwater into cisterns, which provided the
complex with water. Once the caves were converted to permanent monasteries,
their walls were carved with intricate reliefs of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas.
Kanheri had become an important Buddhist settlement on the Konkan coast by the
3rd century CE. Most of the caves were used as the Buddhist viharas,
meant for living, studying and meditating. The larger caves, functioned as
chaitvas, or halls for congregational worship. The Avalokiteshwara is the most
distinctive figure.
Pak
spy accuses his agency of protecting terrorists:
A
Pak intelligence officer has accused his own spy agency of protecting
terrorists and filed a petition in a court requesting for a thorough probe in
the matter. Malik Muktar Ahmed Shahzad, a serving assistant sub-inspector of
the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has accused his senior officers of not taking
action against terrorist suspects. These terrorists used to disguise themselves
as citrus dealers in Kot-Monuin and Bhalwal, Sargodha. The business was a mere
camouflage.
....................................................................................
- Foreword by Shri Asaranna Swami,
Price: Rs 200 + P&F Rs 50
....................................................................................
Bharata, My Brother
by Anil Kumar Naik
by Anil Kumar Naik
- Foreword by Shri Asaranna Swami,
Durga Parmeshwari temple, Kateel, Karnataka.
Price: Rs 200 + P&F Rs 50
(NB: P & F chrgs for India)
Picture Post:
......................................................................................
*Your comments are welcome. We value them, to make the blog better.
*Guest writers are welcome. Tell us about the subject. Get in touch.
*Please share this blog
*Please share this blog
..........................................................................................
Aneela Nike Post
..........................................................................................
Aneela Nike Post
Anil Naik
WhatsApp: 91 9969154602
Email: akn929@yahoo.com
Email: akn929@yahoo.com
..........................................................................................
Post
your *Banner ads *Sponsored Post on Aneela Nike Post, WhatsApp: 91
9969154602 Email: akn929@yahoo.com